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White Stinkwood
Celtis africana
SA tree no: 39
English: White Stinkwood, Camdeboo Stinkwood, Stinkwood, African Celtis,
Afrikaans: Witstinkhout, Camdebo-stinkhout
Xhosa: umVangazi, umVumvu
Zulu: uSinga lwesalukazi, umDoni, umPumbulu
N. Sotho: Molahu, Mohlahlagane
S. Sotho: Mokgoma, Lekgoma
Tsonga: Nkelenga
Tswana: Mokgoma
Venda: Mulangula, Mulondwane
Historical scientific names: Celtis rhamnifolia, Celtis kraussiana
Celtis africana, commonly known as White Stinkwood, is a graceful indigenous deciduous tree. It is one of South Africa's most popular and widespread trees, admired for its attractive pale bark, delicate light green foliage, and small, inconspicuous flowers that develop into abundant, edible, berry-like fruits, which are a favourite food for many bird species.
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Distinguishing features:
Smooth, pale grey to whitish bark, often mottled, sometimes with horizontal ridges.
Leaves are alternate, distinctly asymmetrical at the base, with three prominent veins from the base, and toothed margins.
Small, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers.
Small, rounded, berry-like fruits that ripen to yellow-brown or black.
Leaves often turn golden-yellow in autumn before falling.
Overall appearance:
The White Stinkwood (Celtis africana) is an elegant deciduous tree, often with a wide-spreading, rounded crown and graceful, somewhat drooping branches. Its most recognisable feature is its smooth, pale, almost white bark, providing a stark contrast to its delicate light green foliage, which turns a beautiful golden-yellow in autumn. This tree offers excellent shade and a charming, ethereal presence in the landscape.
Height:
Typically grows 10 to 15 metres tall, but can reach up to 25-30 metres in ideal, sheltered forest conditions.
Width:
Can spread to a width of 5 to 15 metres, forming a broad, spreading crown.
Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, simple, oval to broadly ovate, typically 3-10 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide. A key diagnostic feature is their asymmetrical (uneven) base, where one side of the leaf blade extends further down the petiole than the other. They have three prominent veins originating from the base and are distinctly toothed (serrated) along the margins, though sometimes only in the upper half. They are light to mid-green above, paler beneath, and slightly rough to the touch when mature. In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful clear yellow before falling.
Flowers:
The flowers are small, inconspicuous, and greenish-yellow, measuring about 3-5 mm in diameter. They are borne in small, loose clusters (cymes) in the leaf axils. The male and female flowers are typically separate but occur on the same tree (monoecious). The male flowers are usually more numerous and in larger clusters, while female flowers are often solitary or in groups of 2-3. Wind-pollinated.
Flowering season:
It primarily flowers in spring (around August to October), often just as the new leaves emerge.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small, rounded, berry-like drupe, about 4-8 mm in diameter, with a thin, fleshy pulp surrounding a single hard seed. It ripens from green to yellow-brown, eventually turning dark brown or black when fully mature (usually from late spring to autumn). They are produced in abundance.
Seeds:
Each fruit contains a single, hard, pitted, almost spherical seed (pyrene). Seeds are widely dispersed by birds and other animals that consume the fruit.
Bark/Stems:
The bark is a distinctive smooth, pale grey to whitish or light brown, often mottled with darker patches. On older trees, it can develop horizontal rings or slight ridging, but it generally remains smooth. The young stems are often green and slightly hairy.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood is yellowish-white, soft to moderately hard, and somewhat brittle. When cut or bruised, it often emits an unpleasant, slightly "stinky" odour (hence "stinkwood"), which dissipates as the wood dries. It is used for furniture (though less prized than Black Stinkwood, Ocotea bullata), wagon parts, and general carpentry. It makes good firewood.
Roots:
It has a strong, deep, and fairly aggressive root system, which can sometimes interfere with paving or foundations if planted too close.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, from sandy to loamy and clay soils. It tolerates poor soil conditions and a wide range of pH levels, thriving in both acidic and alkaline soils.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It is very drought-tolerant once established and highly tolerant of wind, including coastal winds, making it a robust choice for various climates. It is also highly frost-tolerant, enduring severe frosts without significant damage.
Ediblity:
The small, ripe, berry-like fruits are edible for humans. They have a sweet but somewhat dry or mealy flavour. They are typically eaten fresh but are not widely used in culinary preparations.
Toxicity:
Considered non-toxic.
Uses:
An exceptionally popular and widely planted indigenous tree for gardens, parks, avenues, street planting, and farms. It provides excellent shade in summer and allows sunlight through in winter due to its deciduous nature. It is ideal as a specimen tree, a background tree, or for planting in groups. Its hardiness, fast growth, and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of climates and conditions. The wood has some traditional uses, and it is a crucial component of many natural ecosystems.
Ecology:
The small, inconspicuous flowers are wind-pollinated. The abundant fruits are a crucial food source for a vast array of bird species, including barbets, bulbuls, mousebirds, starlings, pigeons, and many others, which are the primary dispersers of its seeds. Small mammals may also feed on the fruits. The tree provides excellent nesting sites and shelter for birds and other wildlife. It is a larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Common Hottentot (Tarucus theophrastus) and the African Snout Butterfly (Libythea labdaca).
Distribution and habitat:
Celtis africana is one of the most widespread indigenous trees in South Africa, found in all nine provinces. It is also distributed extensively across much of eastern and southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and further north. It grows in an incredibly wide variety of habitats, including dry woodlands, savannas, grasslands, riverine forests, forest margins, rocky outcrops, and even coastal dunes. It can be found from sea level up to high altitudes.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Celtis is an ancient Latin name used by Pliny the Elder for a tree with sweet fruit, possibly referring to the European nettle tree (Celtis australis).
The species epithet africana simply means "of Africa," indicating its origin on the African continent.
The common name "White Stinkwood" refers to its pale, whitish bark and the "stink" (unpleasant odour) of its freshly cut wood, distinguishing it from the unrelated but more valuable "Black Stinkwood" (Ocotea bullata).
"Camdeboo Stinkwood" refers to its prevalence in the Camdeboo region of the Eastern Cape.
Historical aspects:
The White Stinkwood has been an iconic and deeply integrated part of the South African landscape for centuries. Its widespread distribution means it has been known and used by various indigenous communities for its wood, shade, and edible fruits. Early European settlers also recognised its value for timber, despite the smell. Its remarkable adaptability and elegant appearance have made it a cornerstone of both natural ecosystems and cultivated landscapes, enduring droughts, fires, and frosts. It symbolises the resilience and beauty of African flora.
Interesting facts:
Don't let the name "Stinkwood" scare you! While its fresh wood might have a slight smell, it quickly fades, and the tree itself is beautifully fragrant.
Its bark is so pale and smooth, it almost looks like it's been painted white – very easy to spot!
The leaves are a bit lopsided at the bottom, which is a cool way to tell them apart from other trees.
Those tiny little berries might not look like much, but they are a massive feast for dozens of different bird species – your garden will become a bird paradise!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily propagated from fresh seed, which should be cleaned of its fleshy pulp and can benefit from a cold stratification period (placing seeds in moist sand in a fridge for a few weeks) to improve germination. Cuttings are generally difficult.
Planting: Prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade. Very adaptable to most well-drained soil types, including poor or sandy soils.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment (first 1-2 years). Once established, it is very drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering.
Frost Protection: Highly frost-tolerant. Young trees can be more vulnerable, but established trees handle severe frost well.
Maintenance: Low maintenance. Prune to shape or remove any dead or crossing branches. It's a fast-growing tree, so ensure it has ample space to reach its full size.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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